We recently connected with Juliette Yan Yiu Ho and have shared our conversation below.

Juliette Yan Yiu, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Many people may attribute success to hard work and perseverance. While they are certainly true to some extent, in a society in which merit is often emphasized, we often fail to appreciate the collaborative effort that contributes to success. In the film industry, success is often associated directly with the talent of the director and the actors. However, a film cannot be completed without the hard work of many people behind the scenes. From gaffers who set the tone of the scene by designing how the light is lit to sound designers who recreate the sonic environments of the scene in post-production, it does take a village to make a film. For instance, my role as a colorist is responsible for the final step of the picture editing process, which through adjusting luminance and chroma values, I help to fully realize the full potential of a film’s visual identity. In some cases, for example, documentaries, I can work around the limitations during production and help create a cohesive narrative by reshaping the visuals. As a working professional in the film industry, I think what it takes to be successful, is not only about being good at my job, but is also about being appreciative of the work of other collaborators and seeing how we can best facilitate each other’s work and create the best outcome.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a colorist is the opportunity to solve visual problems in a way that supports and enhances a director’s vision. Every project presents a unique puzzle—balancing tone, mood, and narrative through color. I work on a lot of indie productions in which there was often limited time and budget during production. My work could sometimes help the director polish the visual element of a film to remedy undesirable conditions. I feel that my role can contribute to helping the film industry democratize and assist directors in creating their vision despite limited budgets and resources. What I find especially fulfilling is the process of creative communication, particularly with female directors who often bring nuanced and deeply personal stories to the table. Translating those ideas visually requires not only technical skills but also empathy, active listening, and shared creative language. It’s in those conversations—where emotion meets intention—that the real artistry of color grading comes alive.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Throughout film school, I wanted to become a cinematographer. I photographed over 40+ films ranging from shorts to features, narratives to documentaries over different continents.

My transition from cinematographer to colorist wasn’t something I planned—it evolved naturally over time as I became increasingly fascinated by the power of color in shaping a story’s emotional tone. I observed that a lot of the films I worked on did not properly go through the finishing process. Post-production has often been undervalued at Tisch and there is a lack of post-production artists compared to directors and cinematographers. What is attractive to me about post-finishing is that it is where a film’s visual identity is fully realized, where I witness all the creativity and talents align on screen.

Working on set taught me how light, texture and lens choices influence the final image, and that hands-on experience now gives me an edge in the grading suite. I understand the intent behind every shot because I’ve been behind the camera myself, solving problems in real-time and collaborating closely with directors and DPs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juliette-ho.com/
• Instagram: @julie77e.ho
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliette-ho/

Image Credits

Personal Photo: credit: Hannah Minaya
Photo 1: Music Video “Fire For You” Dir. Vicky Mezquita; Color: Juliette Ho
Photo 2: “The Slicks” Dir. Tucker Papa; Color: Juliette Ho
Photo 3: “Ruse” Dir. Rhea Shukla; Color: Juliette Ho
Photo 4: “Lottie Baby” Dir. Bella Rosales; Color: Juliette Ho
Photo 5: Ouer Commerical Fashion Film Dir. Sin Young Kim; Color: Juliette Ho